Chapter 6

The question hung around for seconds before the doctor said, "We've taken the bullets out, he lost a lot of blood though, and the one at his back was hard to deal with, for now, it seemed that it caused no apparent damage, still we need to wait till his awakening to give a final diagnosis" the doctor moved to leave but Anna stopped him shouting " what does that even mean, is he OK or not? When is he going to wake up? He'll live, right? That's what I want to know. " Everyone stared at her, she's been very calm for the past 2 hours, but she obviously lost her patience. The doctor smiled in understanding and replied, " He'll be OK if the next 48 hours pass with no complications. For now, he'll be staying under observation in the ICU "

The minutes went slowly. Everyone was consumed by his fears. Anna was pale as paper watching Alex through the glass in The ICU room where he was moved. The sight was terrible the worst thing she had ever seen as long as her short memory could remember. Alex, her dear brother, her strength, her hero was lying there still, barely breathing. How come? What should she do? What if .... at the what if Anna didn't dare to keep thinking, and without realizing she was running out of the hospital, she ran like she was running for her life, or his for that matter, she stopped for a second at the hospital entrance not knowing where to go, only then she sensed the ones after her. Liz and Allan ran after her and called her, but she was oblivious to them. The first one who got to her was Liz. She caught Anna's arm, forcing Anna to face her, Liz cried, " Where do you think you're going? Do you want to die?" Anna wanted to pull her arm from her and answer her, but Allan was already there. He pulled Anna to his side and slapped Liz's hand away, saying, " Don't you ever do that again." He turned to Anna and asked," Are you OK? " Anna looked at him in surprise, wanted to say something, but again, Liz interrupted her unsaid question with one of hers, " Who are you exactly! Why are you hanging around like this? Liz asked, pulling Anna to her side, Allan was taken back, so he took a deep breath and answered, " we're classmates, and I am here for my family members" he looked at Anna, with eyes full of things Anna couldn't figure. Liz looked at Anna, who nodded a yes. However, without warning, Allan pulled her back to his side, saying, " Excuse us now that you know." he was talking while pushing Anna to walk ahead of him, Anna was about to object when Liz pulled her one more time to her side and started saying," she is going nowhere, we will stick around till Alex is awakened" Allan stepped forward and started " says who?" Anna, who got tired of them, cried out," Stop it, both of you, what am I, two? For you to stand discussing my actions on my behalf?" They both opened their mouths to argue, but she demanded," Not a word, I need a break for God's sake, " she started walking, but Liz stopped her again." Listen first, you can go, but I am coming with you. These are my orders, not to let you out of my sight, " both Allan and Anna questioned in one voice," orders !!"

Liz replied, " Yeah, Alex's orders. He was worried that whoever shot him would target you." Anna shivered at the last couple of words, whereas Allen automatically stepped in front of Anna so that she was covered by his body, Liz looked at him with questioning eyes. For Anna, the gesture brought up some kind of a familiar panic accompanied by some flashes she could not recognize, and the harder she tried to clear them, the harder her head ached. Noticing the change in her breathing, Allan, who was scanning the surroundings turned to face her alarmed " Easy Anna, it is OK, you are safe, it's gonna be OK" his voice was so distant and kept vanishing till Anna finally closed her eyes and let the darkness devour her running from all the stress and horror she went through all day long, Allan caught her before she hit the ground and got in. After the doctor confirmed that Anna was OK and that she passed out because of anxiety and staying with nothing to eat all day, Liz took Allan out of her room pushed him to the wall, and putting her arm under his chin she threatened him saying "I'll ask you one time nicely, who are you? The boys checked, and there was no Maxwell in this hospital, so drop the act. " Allan was young, but strong he played basketball since he was a kid, which gave him enough strength, skill, and speed to defend himself, so in a surprising move he pushed Liz back and stood up fixing his clothes he mocked Liz saying " you and your boys need to check more... how are you supposed to protect her if you don't even know who she is?" He asked with a harsh tone, Liz's eyes widened as she grasped what he meant." You mean that Anna is.." he interrupted her saying "Nice to see that you've got a bit of inelegance, yes they are the family members I am here for, but Anna doesn't know, she didn't remember that part yet" He dropped himself on the chair beaten, while Liz stood observing him in disbelief.

Allan's mind ran back to the first time Anna entered the school, how his heart beaten like a dram, how he wanted to hug her, but he could not, she passed him like he was invisible, like she didn't see him. He knew that this would happen, but no previous knowledge was enough to prepare him for the way he felt then, to the hammers that hit his heart with no mercy, and they still do, each time she looked at him with that emptiness in her honey eyes. He tried a lot to get closer to her. he defended her when students from the final year bullied her and though it could have cost him his basketball team participation in the winter's cup he didn't have a second thought when he beat them up and warned them not to get in her way again. He sat next to her, followed her everywhere, and teased her, hoping something would trigger her memories, and he wouldn't be forgotten anymore, but still, it was like he was deleted forever.